Bombers beat Alouettes 19-10, but lose backup QB Streveler to injury

WINNIPEG — Chris Streveler may have paid a high price for starting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ final regular-season game on Saturday.

The backup quarterback injured his left leg while scrambling early in the first quarter of Winnipeg’s 19-10 victory over the Montreal Alouettes.

Streveler was helped off the field and was later seen on crutches in the locker room.

“It’s a tough game,” Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said when asked about the injury. ”It can be cruel sometimes, but I’ll never doubt his resolve, his determination.

“We’ll see where this goes but, yeah, it stinks. But once again, until I find out whether it really stinks or not, I’m going to just keep on being positive.”

Streveler tore up the ligaments in his left knee last season.

The Bombers finished with a 10-8 record, but won’t find out where they’ll play next weekend’s CFL semifinal game until the league’s final regular-season game is played later in the night. If the B.C. Lions lose on the road to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg heads to Calgary to take on the Stampeders in the West Division semifinal. If the Lions win, the Bombers travel to face the Alouettes (10-8) in the East semifinal.

Veteran Winnipeg offensive lineman Pat Neufeld said it was “gut-wrenching” to see Streveler go down.

“He’s a brother to me,” Neufeld said. “I love that guy and, more than a teammate, you feel for him as a human.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but he’s hurt and he’s emotional and losing him sucks. He’s a huge part of our team and our identity. We’re going to go do this for him, we’re going to have him in our hearts and I know he’s going to be there with us.”

Quarterback Zach Collaros was one of a number of Winnipeg starters who sat out the game. After Streveler left the field, third-stringer Terry Wilson took over.

Wilson has been with the team for two seasons, but hadn’t thrown a pass this year. He did get into last year’s Grey Cup game when Winnipeg lost to the Toronto Argonauts.

“You never want to see anybody go down like that, especially a guy that I spend most of my time with,” Wilson said of Streveler. Wilson completed 11 of 21 pass attempts for 79 yards with one interception against the Alouettes. He also ran one yard for a touchdown. “It felt good to get myself rolling a little bit,” Wilson said. “Definitely some plays I wish I could get back.

“But all together, man, defence played a phenomenal game, got us the ball in some good territory. The special teams played great.” The Alouettes brought quarterback Davis Alexander to Winnipeg, but started McLeod Bethel-Thompson after first place in the East became out of reach when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Ottawa Redblacks 35-15 on Friday.

Montreal head coach Jason Maas said leaving Alexander on the sidelines was also a precautionary move.

“When we got here, Davis had been dealing with a little bit, just something small and minor, and it wasn’t prudent to push him through it to play a game that, in our standings, wouldn’t have improved it,” Maas said.

The game was played in front of a full house of 32,343 fans at Princess Auto Stadium. It was first time in franchise history the Bombers sold out an entire season. The team’s capacity streak sits at 14 games dating back to August 2024. Bombers kicker Sergio Castillo was good on field goals from 48, 42, 17 and nine yards, but was short on a 58-yard attempt and hit an upright from 50 yards out in windy conditions. He made one convert.

Montreal global kicker Jose Maltos Diaz set a franchise record for most field goals in a season when he knocked through a 25-yarder early in the first quarter. He also connected from 32 and 35 yards. Joseph Zema recorded a 57-yard punt single. Bombers backup Matthew Peterson, who hails from Brooks, Alta., suited up instead of Brady Oliveira and led all running backs with 17 carries for 80 yards. Montreal receiver Tyson Philpot topped receivers with six catches for 66 yards.

The Bombers led 3-0 after the first quarter, 13-4 at halftime and 13-7 heading into the fourth. Wilson’s one-yard touchdown came after a Montreal turnover. Philpot fumbled a catch and safety Cam Allen recovered the ball and ran to the Alouettes’ 19-yard line.

UP NEXT

Alouettes: Host the East Division semifinal Nov. 1 against Winnipeg.

Bombers: Play a division semifinal Nov. 1 at Montreal.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2025.